A WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER

Monday, July 11, 2011

 "Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is worth more than precious rubies.
Her husband can trust her, and she will 
greatly enrich his life. She will not hinder
him but help him all her life." 
Proverbs 31:10
 Fifty-three years ago in Norwalk, California, Charlotte and I said our wedding vows and promised to be faithful to each other until death should part us. Fifty-three years is a long time but for us it has gone by fast.

Charlotte and I were in full time ministry with the church for almost fifty years. In those years I performed many, many wedding ceremonies. Most of them that I know about have lasted. Some have not. Couples break up and fail to be faithful to their vows for many different reasons. Others stay together and are faithful for various reasons.

How about the two of us? Why have we stayed together?

Well of course there are the vows we took before God. That always looms large for us. That's first and foremost. But putting that aside for a moment. What, on a practical level, has kept us together?

The answer is: CHARLOTTE!

Charlotte is a good woman. She is. She always has been. I met her when she was just a young girl. She was good then and now in her seventies--she is still good. Charlotte always wants to do what is right--what is good.

You can't live as long as we have without having many trying days. We have been up on the mountain and we have been down in the valley. In all of this, God's grace has been amazing.

"Thru many dangers, toils and snares, (we) have already come; 'Tis grace hath brought (us) safe thus far, And grace will lead (us) home."










6 comments:

Mevely317 said...

Beautiful! My eyes keep returning to your sweet "1948" picture. Did you know, then, Charlotte was "the One"?

Happy Anniversary!
Myra

Jane Anne said...

Clif, What a beautiful post. You and Charlotte are such a fine example to all of us. I hope my David will feel the same about me as you do Charlotte! God bless you with many more years together.

Loren said...

Clif,

I am guessing it is your Anniversary! If so, then Happy Anniversary to you both! You two have always been such an inspiration to me and I am certain to many others as well! Your love and respect for one another comes across so beautifully!

I pray you all have many years to come and I know the Lord will bless those as richly as HE has the last 53!!

Bless you both and thank you for being such godly examples of what a loving marriage should be!

Margie Smith said...

Cliff, that's a beautiful tribute to your wife Charlotte, as well as to your marriage itself. Thank you Lord, for the time I have known them both.
A privilege and an honor.
Margie

Sandy Cardoni said...

You have always had a way with words...Happy Anniversary. What a lovely tribute.
Sandy Overturf Cardoni

Carrie said...

Beautiful! You are both a great example!